Opportunity for Football Facility Funding

The NSW Government has announced a rare opportunity to apply for funding potentially going towards projects such as the upgrades of club facilities, funding of sporting equipment, or providing tools and equipment to improve the delivery of community services.
The Stronger Communities Fund will help to create Stronger Communities by local residents, community groups and new councils working together to deliver infrastructure outcomes for the future of our local communities. The Fund was officially announced in May 2016 by Minister for Local Government, The Hon Paul Toole.
The new $10 – $15 million investment for each new council will enable councils to continue to spend on priority community initiatives such as grassroots facility projects, which will improve the experience of playing the national game at the grassroots level and help to increase participation in football. The Stronger Communities Fund provides community grants upto $50,000 to local community projects as well as $9 – 14 million towards building or refurbishing grassroots facilities, such as changing pavilions and playing surfaces for community benefit, with the money provided by the NSW Government through the amalgamation and creation of new councils.
The Stronger Communities funding will be available to new councils created as part of the NSW Government’s Fit for the Future reform program.

• Funding of $10 million is provided to a new council formed as a result of two councils, or parts of two councils, merging.
• Funding of $15 million is provided to a new council formed as a result of three or more councils, or parts of three or more councils, merging.,

Who is eligible?
Incorporated, not-for-profit community groups in NSW.

Guidelines
Community Grants Program Eligible Projects
The Stronger Communities Fund provides community grants for projects allocating up to $1 million in grants of up to $50,000 to incorporated not-for-profit community groups, for projects that build more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive local communities.
Councils are to provide grants to incorporated not-for-profit community groups for projects identified and assessed using an open call for applications.
To be successful for funding, community projects must meet the following criteria:

• deliver social, cultural, economic or environmental benefits to local communities
• address an identified community priority
• be well defined with a clear budget
• demonstrate that any ongoing or recurrent costs of the project can be met by the community group once grant funding has been expensed
• the organisation must demonstrate the capacity to manage funds and deliver the project.

The maximum available to any one community group is $50,000. The amount community groups request should reflect the scale of the project.

Major Projects Program Eligible Projects
Councils will fund projects that deliver new or improved infrastructure or services to the community.
Projects that are prioritised for funding must meet the following criteria:

• have been through a community consultation process
• demonstrate social and/or economic benefits to the community
• consider issues of sustainability and equity across the broader community
• demonstrate project feasibility and value for money, including full lifecycle costs;
• did not have funds allocated by the former councils
• give consideration to the processes and procedures outlined in the capital expenditure review guidelines issued by the Office of Local Government.

Depending on the council a total pool of $9 – $14 million is available.
The types of facilities that may you wish to apply for include :

• Grass pitches, drainage/improvements
• Pavilions, parking areas, clubhouses and changing rooms
• 3G Football Turf Pitches and multi-use games areas
• Upgrade floodlights for pitches
• Seating are and grant stands.

How do we connect with councils?

• One way to approach this fund is by writing to your local council MP & General Manager regarding the benefit of the fund going towards your development project and Football as a whole. Clubs should show how the funds flow towards community outcomes by using evidence such as stats
• Set up a meeting with your new amalgamated council General Manager
• Other councils that are not amalgamated will have their own budgets to manage and not this pool of money, but the same principals exist get in touch with your local council General Manager
• A great reason to meet your council is because councils are starting to evaluate their previous expenditure budget and how effective it was regarding community outcomes. Contacting your local council now with a priorities list will help shape councils forthcoming budget and planning stages.

How do I do this?

• The way to do this is by sending an initial letter to the General Manager or Council Councillors outlining how football can make a difference in helping to shape the councils future community strategic plan. Your approach should tick the health and wellbeing boxes. Football ticks all these boxes and the strengths you hold is that you know what upgrades need to be done out on the grounds. Information regarding council contact details can be found on your local council website   
• Look at the councils current community strategic plan and relate facilities to health outcomes and how facilities will help these outcomes ie increase playing opportunities = healthier people
• Inform councils that you wish to work collaboratively by sharing information about facilities and participation numbers whilst they help you in regards to upgrades
• You need to highlight that development of facilities is not just about football, but the wider community such as bringing other sports or community users to the table to share the ground when the club does not use it etc.  

Lastly
Time is of the essence as councils are looking to lock in projects now as from the 1^st July 2017 local councils will kick off their new plans and budgets. 
Further information can be found on the Stronger Communities Fund Official website.